Road Sign Theft Creates Public Danger

The theft of road signs and barricades Feb. 6 from German Township Road G at the County Road 24 and 25- 2 intersections created extreme danger to the motoring public. High water over the roadway made the signs critical to travelers.

Roads near the Tiffin River and its tributaries in German and Franklin Townships have flooded several times since late fall. Fortunately, there was no loss of life on the highways due to the February sign theft.

Stealing a road sign is illegal. It can result in a large fine and, if a death results, years in jail.

Stealing a road sign of any type is not only illegal, it's stupid.

Sign theft shows the thief, or thieves, has no respect for the lives of others, or public property. It is also a monetary loss to the township and county that paid to erect and maintain the sign.

People can die, and government can be out tax dollars, because some smarty wants a traffic sign. Some people think the signs make interesting additions to basement walls or recreation rooms. A wall filled with stolen signs just proves the owner is probably a thief.

Some people think that because the word "public" is attached to property, members of the public have the right to remove it, deface it, or totally destroy it. Of course, that is totally wrong.

It is time that fines for road sign theft be increased significantly. It might be best to put sign thieves in jail, and make them do community service.